"Treasure room," Ne'haredowell repeats after Hastos after he repeated from Ororanna.
Hmm, he didn't expect a treasure room here. Maybe an alter or a shrine.... oh wait never mind that makes sense. Offerings. Remembering diamonds that were affixed to the zombies, he wonders how much this whole operation could have cost.
The haregon's ears droop at Sera's mention of the statue-minotaur. He wished he'd had been there more to help. Trying to think of a more uplifting situation, he agrees with Sera too, responding with thanks for the save from the cultists. "Thank you all. It is so good to have found you," he bows a bit. Then stiffens a little, remembering he's supposed to be some sort of 'Magus' according to Merkas, and straightens. "It means... much... to have been part of a team.. again."
He smiles before suddenly looking down, holding out the skull-mask in front of him as though inspecting it, averting his gaze to everyone expect the empty eye sockets of the deer-skull. It felt weird to make eye contact with them. Without the mask on his head, he feels exposed. Not to mention that half his gauze had been burned off. It is a good thing he is completely covered in fur.
Sighing and rubbing at his neck with his free hand, it cracks in a way he didn't intend to. "Ugh, I hope we do not have to do that again."
Heading along with the others he responds to Sera, “Yeah, we found treasure but they had some skeleton guarding it, had to scatter its bones before we could leave with anything nice, like this cloak, it feels lime it’s protecting me somehow, a statue smashed you? You look like you’re doing pretty good though, how ‘bout you Mr. Magus?”
"Huh?" He blinks. "Me? Oh, uh-"He makes face before recomposing himself; he hangs his shoulders. "I got sent to the broom closet."He looks over his shoulder at Sera while still avoiding any eye contact. "Thank you... back there. I truly owe you one."
You hasten your way towards the chamber with the disabled trap in it, to find four zombies have shambled in there. The symbols on their foreheads are glowing with white-hot flame, and they appear to be very disoriented... almost in pain.
Ororana, leading the way, slows to a halt and looks around nervously, as the symbols turn to ash and fall away. The zombies stop writhing and turn their hateful gaze towards Dawnbound. "Well..." Ororana chuckles, "shit."
The mouse on his shoulders nips at Nare to get his attention a second before the zombies actually get there. About to brush it off, he recognizes the threat and his face falls. 'Well shit, indeed.'
He nods along with Sera's sentiments. The shadows around him flare as he steadies himself for a fight.
Ororana nods, inpsired by Sera's words. Zombies.... comparatively an easy takedown. She doesn't have the same empathy for the fallen Dragon Army soldiers that Sera does, but after that last disheartening encounter, lopping off zombie heads sounded cathartic. And the treasure on the other side will make this whole haphazard mission worth it. Bubbling with magically boosted stamina, she spins her greataxe and locks into position, smiling in spite of their situation... diamonds, she thinks to herself.
“Not peaking honest” Merkas states as he ducks under Ororanas legs and starts into the zombies, Splinter glinting in the light of Seras sword. The first one drops after his dagger slashes across its abdomen, he spins around with the other dagger and slashes the thigh of the next one to drop its mass lower before imbedding the liberated cultist dagger into the soft spot just above the breastbone of the third zombie, between the collar bones, and leaves it there. “Sera, member how you burned up them others? Be a good idea to do the same to these guys”
Move in front of Ororana (square to right of her)
Splinter attack zombie yellow: To Hit = 17, Dmg = 6 Sneak Attack damage = 3 Total = 9
Move one more square right to just above zombie red.
Dagger attack zombie red: Expertise Nik: To Hit = 10, Dmg = 4
Bonus action attack zombie blue, Two weapon fighting dagger: To Hit= Nat 20 + 6 =26, Dmg = 2
Zombie Yellow shudders, and collapses to the floor, re-dead, before even being able to raise a clawed hand!
Zombie Yellow rolls CON Save (DC 20): 16 (Fails)
Merkas climbs onto the disabled trap (you gain high ground, and can attack with Advantage from that height), and slashes at Zombie Red's thigh! It wavers, its tendon severed, and drops to one knee but doesn't seem to have lost its desire to fight!
Zombie Red rolls CON Save (DC 9): 17 (Survives with 1 HP)
Merkas's cultist dagger stabs the diamond on the way through Zombie Blue's collar bone, which shunts it our of the Zombie's body, and it clinks and rolls across the floor! Zombie Blue snarls as the dagger digs in, then it sags to the floor.
Hrothbert_Neruca, that's a crit, so I'm gonna give it to you. Even for Zombies, these guys are weak, and I know the pain of rolling 1s on a crit. Zombie Blue is dead.
With only two zombies remaining, Ororana charges in, roaring! She takes a diagonal sweep at Zombie Red's dessicated neck, and the head flies off in a high spiral, flinging rancid gore like fetid fireworks until it splats to the ground! The zombie body collapses to the floor in a crumbled pile of flesh and bone.
Ororana Moves diagonally southeast to flank Zombie Red for Advantage and Attacks: (13) Damage: 19 (Slashing) Zombie Red CON Save (DC 24): Automatic Fail Hrothbert_Neruca, Nare is up, followed by Sera.
Nare's eyes open at Merkas's comment. They hold back a snicker and hides it with a sniffle and a wipe of their mouth.
Jumping into action alongside Ororonna, Ne'haredowell hops off the walls in an acrobatic fashion, playfully following in Merkas's footsteps. Shadows engulf their hands as they push it against the remaining zombie's chest.
The fetid fireworks from Ororonna's attack spray against their cloak, which they laugh at (not about the zombie's final death, of course, but of the whiplash of the easier battle compared to the one earlier) and shake the viscera off. Somehow this was a little bit more fun. 'Hopefully the zombies will finally get to rest.' they think.
(Movement) Move to the left of Zombie Green
(Action) Attack Zombie Green with Chill Touch for 7 + 6 = 12 to Hit for a total of 5 + 2 = 7 Necrotic Damage
Zombie Green looks up at Nare as if to say "huh?" then shrivels up at Ne'haredowell's touch until they turn to dessicated bone and ash. A simgle diamond plops onto the ashy pile.
You are now out of Initiative. Dawnbound gains 400 XP each.
Echoing through the chamber, you can hear other zombies have gone feral and are now on the hunt. But this chamber is clear...
Sera braced herself, sunblade raised, ribs aching but her resolve firm. The golden light spilled across the corridor, catching the dead in its glow. She took a sharp breath, ready to throw herself into the thick of it—yet before she could close the distance, her companions surged past.
Steel, spell, and sheer ferocity tore through the staggering zombies. In the shine of her own blade she watched them fall one after another, cut down before she even reached the front. Her arms lowered slightly, the fight gone before she could strike.
She gave a tired but wry smile, exhaling through her nose. “Guess you didn’t need me after all,” she muttered, though pride in her companions’ strength warmed the words. "let us hurry to the treasure room and then out. I am worried Tekel and his mercenaries will be after us very soon."
“Is it me or are these guys weaker than the last time? We’re gonna need your sword later anyway, and didn’t get a chance to say you’re welcome either, you and Mr Magus did a pretty good job yourselves ‘fore we got there”From his place atop the disabled trap he looks around at what remained of their short battle, “Hmm, guessing all these guys are free from the control that was on them, so don’t need this no more” He pulls off the robe he’s been wearing. “Stunk anyway, like nervous sweat”
Pointing through one of the doors as he drops the garment “All the treasure stuff is through there, but the really important thing is over that way, Ororana saw it, it’s the water the town has needed for a long time, also I want you to know that the head priest lady sounded suspiciously like Rhyana, which would mean Verhana knows a bit more than she’s telling us. I’m thinking the most important thing we do down here is turn the water on. Blaming these guys for turning it off might not be a good idea as the whole town may fall into the ‘We want vengeance at all costs’ zealots we just fought and bring about exactly what these crazy people were trying to do in the first place.” He watches the looks on his friends faces as he talks “Whatcha think, turn the water on and aee what happens when we go top side? Sure would be nice to have a way to prove we’re the good guys”
Sera froze at Merkas’ words, her mouth falling open in disbelief before a hot spark of anger surged through her chest. “Water? …These cultists have been hiding water?” Her voice echoed sharper than she intended, too loud in the damp stone passage, but she couldn’t help it.
She clenched her jaw, her sunblade’s light trembling with the rise of her fury. “While folk above scrape by, dying of thirst—these bastards keep it locked away down here?” Her voice cracked, equal parts rage and memory of her own days on the streets, thirsty and hungry.
She nodded hard at Merkas’ suggestion, eyes flashing. “Yes. We’ll turn it back on. Flood this whole damned place if we have to. Let their secrets rot and drown with them. ******* piss-soaked, rat-humping, goat-*******, plague-licking, cockless, shit-slurping bastards—may their mothers drown in a privy and their fathers get skull-****ed by gully dwarves. Hoarding water while children choke on dust? While honest folk break their backs for a mouthful of mud? May Paladine’s light burn their shriveled balls to ash. Not anymore.”
She spat to the side, every gutter-born curse dripping venom, each uglier than the last, her rage boiling over as if she could cut them with words alone.
Hastos hides his amusement as the string of curses issues from Sera’s lips. “Agreed. Let’s grab what we can and get that water on. I’m not usually too interested in wealth, but in political skirmishes, money is power and influence. If… “ Hastos coughs a bit then continues, “… our adversaries are indeed high up, the money will help.”
”We’ll also need some place to hide it before we get back to the top side. We can’t been seen to have stolen from the coffers of government.”
You enter the treasure room, and the Gust of Wind spell is still scattering the piles along the southern wall, but it seems to be dying out. Here, you find food resources, clothing, shelter building supplies, coins, gold and steel bricks, jewels, and armaments. With the Deathlock gone, you pretty much have free run of the place.
The growling sounds of hungry zombies seems to be distant here, but it sounds like a small horde of zombies have encountered another monster and started fighting it. Sussing out the direction of the scuffle is nearly impossible with how it echoes through the chambers. Ororana sighs when she sees the mess she made of the room.
"Conveniently, the food and clothing supplies are the least important, since you brought the crates back. But they're still important. It seems like someone was helping them skim from the supply lines. If you're right, Merkas, and Rhyana and Verhanna are involved in this, that wouldn't be hard to accomplish. Rhyana is in charge of supply distribution, and Verhanna manages Santekh's finances." She looks down and nudges a sack of medicine with her foot. "I feel so stupid. I would've trusted Verhanna with my life. She seems stand-offish, but she has a soft side underneath. You can see it when she's close to Rhyana. They are the most influential members of the council. Bringing them down will require a lot of evidence, and a majority vote from the council, which can't be done. Buckeran and Piruz make up the other two votes, and I doubt either Verhanna or Rhyana will vote against each other. Without a tie-breaker, I don't see a way to take them down without an act of force. Amelista and Harmanutis have been petitioning for a 5th position on council for situations like this, but we've just had too many other battles to fight to put the plan into motion."
Ne'haredowell's ears perk in surprise by the zombie's seeming recognition. He picks up the diamond and tosses it in between his hands before crouching down to scoop the zombie ash into their component pouch. Dusting himself off, he keeps hold of the diamond in one paw.
... also I want you to know that the head priest lady sounded suspiciously like Rhyana, which would mean Verhana knows a bit more than she’s telling us. I’m thinking the most important thing we do down here is turn the water on...
She spat to the side, every gutter-born curse dripping venom, each uglier than the last, her rage boiling over as if she could cut them with words alone.
Nare's stance stays still, but his tail wags a bit at the mention of what him and Sera did together with the cultists. Not really used to all the praise, especially not with the nickname, it takes him a lot of willpower not to say anything.
Then the mood turns sour when Merkas mentions the priestess. It confirmed some of his worse suspicions. Rhyanna did like soldiers who would kill Dragon Army warriors, which put him and his old team the Golden Company off her radar. This... this would make sense. Someone on the council would have had to cover it up and who other than her wife. Still, he didn't want to jump to conclusions just yet.
What brings him out of his daydream was Sera's swear-storm. He stands there wide-eyed. 'I didn't clerics can do such a thing like that!'
His pet mouse buries itself into his cloak a bit further; he pets it to soothe it. He nods to agree. It's true though what she said, they had let the town suffer in their search for aimless justice.
Recalling her despaired sigh just a few moments ago, Nare holds up the diamond. "I don't really need it. I just like the dust," Nare reaches to pat Sera on the arm then flinches. He holds up his hand in defense. "Not like thatum." He tries to show her that his shadows were at bay by letting her feel his fur.Realizing that this might be taken in as flirty, he doubles down on his spiel, waving his hands. "I mean, uh no shadows, no nothing. Look." His furry paws were indeed free of darkness.
Shaking his head at himself, "Here," he continues. He hands her the zombie-diamond with a small smile. "You did good. We will stop them and bring water back to Sanketh. Yeah..." Putting his hands in his nonexistent pockets, he is quick to walk away and follow behind in Ororanna's footsteps. 'Sands be damned. I sound like my cheesy shadow-puppet characters.'Listening along with Ororanna's words, Nare scours the place looking for things that he could use. Stopping, crouched down in one corner, he realizes something.
Stumbling to take out his Rogue's Watch, he hurriedly turns the dial to the last ten seconds of the 60. "Go double check the cultist chamber. See if there is any survivors," he whispers to it before continuing to look through the treasure.
Summary of Actions
Turn the Rogue's Watch for the last 10 seconds to go check back the chamber
WIS Investigation Check: NAT 20 + 2 = 22
Hand Sera the Diamond
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Sera watched the so-called treasure room with growing disgust. So much stolen from the poor—coin, trinkets, and even food skimmed off the rations meant for desperate mouths. Her hands clenched as Merkas quietly laid it bare: Ryhana and Verhanna, leaders of the council themselves, were likely behind this corruption. Her heart sank like a stone, but at least the puzzle was snapping together.
“They won’t let us walk free now… not with what we’ve seen. Not with what we know. If we stay in the town, they’ll silence us, one way or another.” Her voice was grim, flat as a grave marker.
When Hastos reminded them that this wasn’t just about wealth, but about the political power wealth brought, Sera gave a slow nod. He was right—they needed leverage, even if it tasted bitter. She drew in a breath and pressed her holy symbol against her chest. “Please, Paladine… give me your strength.”
Her prayer was answered with a subtle spark of radiance. Her muscles thickened, her upper torso shimmering faintly as her arms bulged like knotted rope. Her biceps swelled until they looked carved of stone, the kind of strength you did not want to arm-wrestle against. She rolled her shoulders and flexed her arms.
“I can carry… a lot.” Her voice had a new weight to it, like she was daring the world to try and stop her. With a grunt, she bent low and hauled the first heavy sack onto her shoulders as though it were nothing.
“We’ll split it all later. For now, we pack the most valuable pieces first. Medicines, steel, jewels… even gold if we can. We take anything that weakens their grip when we take it away.” She kicked open a crate of dried food, quickly emptying it to make space for steel bars. Her eyes flicked toward Nare and Orerana.
“You two. Water. Can you get it flowing again?” she asked a bit more bossy than intended , her voice edged with the fire of someone ready to spit in the face of every corrupt bastard hoarding what others bled for. She was upset.
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"Treasure room," Ne'haredowell repeats after Hastos after he repeated from Ororanna.
Hmm, he didn't expect a treasure room here. Maybe an alter or a shrine.... oh wait never mind that makes sense. Offerings. Remembering diamonds that were affixed to the zombies, he wonders how much this whole operation could have cost.
The haregon's ears droop at Sera's mention of the statue-minotaur. He wished he'd had been there more to help. Trying to think of a more uplifting situation, he agrees with Sera too, responding with thanks for the save from the cultists. "Thank you all. It is so good to have found you," he bows a bit. Then stiffens a little, remembering he's supposed to be some sort of 'Magus' according to Merkas, and straightens. "It means... much... to have been part of a team.. again."
He smiles before suddenly looking down, holding out the skull-mask in front of him as though inspecting it, averting his gaze to everyone expect the empty eye sockets of the deer-skull. It felt weird to make eye contact with them. Without the mask on his head, he feels exposed. Not to mention that half his gauze had been burned off. It is a good thing he is completely covered in fur.
Sighing and rubbing at his neck with his free hand, it cracks in a way he didn't intend to. "Ugh, I hope we do not have to do that again."
"Huh?" He blinks. "Me? Oh, uh-" He makes face before recomposing himself; he hangs his shoulders. "I got sent to the broom closet." He looks over his shoulder at Sera while still avoiding any eye contact. "Thank you... back there. I truly owe you one."
The mouse on his shoulders nips at Nare to get his attention a second before the zombies actually get there. About to brush it off, he recognizes the threat and his face falls. 'Well shit, indeed.'
He nods along with Sera's sentiments. The shadows around him flare as he steadies himself for a fight.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Ibahalii Vriwhulth
Ororana nods, inpsired by Sera's words. Zombies.... comparatively an easy takedown. She doesn't have the same empathy for the fallen Dragon Army soldiers that Sera does, but after that last disheartening encounter, lopping off zombie heads sounded cathartic. And the treasure on the other side will make this whole haphazard mission worth it. Bubbling with magically boosted stamina, she spins her greataxe and locks into position, smiling in spite of their situation... diamonds, she thinks to herself.
Initiative Order:
Hrothbert_Neruca, Merkas is up.
Map:
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Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
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Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
“Not peaking honest” Merkas states as he ducks under Ororanas legs and starts into the zombies, Splinter glinting in the light of Seras sword. The first one drops after his dagger slashes across its abdomen, he spins around with the other dagger and slashes the thigh of the next one to drop its mass lower before imbedding the liberated cultist dagger into the soft spot just above the breastbone of the third zombie, between the collar bones, and leaves it there. “Sera, member how you burned up them others? Be a good idea to do the same to these guys”
Move in front of Ororana (square to right of her)
Splinter attack zombie yellow: To Hit = 17, Dmg = 6
Sneak Attack damage = 3 Total = 9
Move one more square right to just above zombie red.
Dagger attack zombie red: Expertise Nik: To Hit = 10, Dmg = 4
Bonus action attack zombie blue, Two weapon fighting dagger: To Hit= Nat 20 + 6 =26, Dmg = 2
(rolled two 1’s on the crit…grr)
Loyalty Begets Honour
Zombie Yellow shudders, and collapses to the floor, re-dead, before even being able to raise a clawed hand!
Zombie Yellow rolls CON Save (DC 20): 16 (Fails)
Merkas climbs onto the disabled trap (you gain high ground, and can attack with Advantage from that height), and slashes at Zombie Red's thigh! It wavers, its tendon severed, and drops to one knee but doesn't seem to have lost its desire to fight!
Zombie Red rolls CON Save (DC 9): 17 (Survives with 1 HP)
Merkas's cultist dagger stabs the diamond on the way through Zombie Blue's collar bone, which shunts it our of the Zombie's body, and it clinks and rolls across the floor! Zombie Blue snarls as the dagger digs in, then it sags to the floor.
Hrothbert_Neruca, that's a crit, so I'm gonna give it to you. Even for Zombies, these guys are weak, and I know the pain of rolling 1s on a crit.
Zombie Blue is dead.
With only two zombies remaining, Ororana charges in, roaring! She takes a diagonal sweep at Zombie Red's dessicated neck, and the head flies off in a high spiral, flinging rancid gore like fetid fireworks until it splats to the ground! The zombie body collapses to the floor in a crumbled pile of flesh and bone.
Ororana Moves diagonally southeast to flank Zombie Red for Advantage and Attacks: (13)
Damage: 19 (Slashing)
Zombie Red CON Save (DC 24): Automatic Fail
Hrothbert_Neruca, Nare is up, followed by Sera.
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My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
Nare's eyes open at Merkas's comment. They hold back a snicker and hides it with a sniffle and a wipe of their mouth.
Jumping into action alongside Ororonna, Ne'haredowell hops off the walls in an acrobatic fashion, playfully following in Merkas's footsteps. Shadows engulf their hands as they push it against the remaining zombie's chest.
The fetid fireworks from Ororonna's attack spray against their cloak, which they laugh at (not about the zombie's final death, of course, but of the whiplash of the easier battle compared to the one earlier) and shake the viscera off. Somehow this was a little bit more fun. 'Hopefully the zombies will finally get to rest.' they think.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Ibahalii Vriwhulth
Zombie Green looks up at Nare as if to say "huh?" then shrivels up at Ne'haredowell's touch until they turn to dessicated bone and ash. A simgle diamond plops onto the ashy pile.
You are now out of Initiative.
Dawnbound gains 400 XP each.
Echoing through the chamber, you can hear other zombies have gone feral and are now on the hunt. But this chamber is clear...
She/her, DM and Player.
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My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
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Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
Sera braced herself, sunblade raised, ribs aching but her resolve firm. The golden light spilled across the corridor, catching the dead in its glow. She took a sharp breath, ready to throw herself into the thick of it—yet before she could close the distance, her companions surged past.
Steel, spell, and sheer ferocity tore through the staggering zombies. In the shine of her own blade she watched them fall one after another, cut down before she even reached the front. Her arms lowered slightly, the fight gone before she could strike.
She gave a tired but wry smile, exhaling through her nose. “Guess you didn’t need me after all,” she muttered, though pride in her companions’ strength warmed the words. "let us hurry to the treasure room and then out. I am worried Tekel and his mercenaries will be after us very soon."
“Is it me or are these guys weaker than the last time? We’re gonna need your sword later anyway, and didn’t get a chance to say you’re welcome either, you and Mr Magus did a pretty good job yourselves ‘fore we got there” From his place atop the disabled trap he looks around at what remained of their short battle, “Hmm, guessing all these guys are free from the control that was on them, so don’t need this no more” He pulls off the robe he’s been wearing. “Stunk anyway, like nervous sweat”
Pointing through one of the doors as he drops the garment “All the treasure stuff is through there, but the really important thing is over that way, Ororana saw it, it’s the water the town has needed for a long time, also I want you to know that the head priest lady sounded suspiciously like Rhyana, which would mean Verhana knows a bit more than she’s telling us. I’m thinking the most important thing we do down here is turn the water on. Blaming these guys for turning it off might not be a good idea as the whole town may fall into the ‘We want vengeance at all costs’ zealots we just fought and bring about exactly what these crazy people were trying to do in the first place.” He watches the looks on his friends faces as he talks “Whatcha think, turn the water on and aee what happens when we go top side? Sure would be nice to have a way to prove we’re the good guys”
Loyalty Begets Honour
Sera froze at Merkas’ words, her mouth falling open in disbelief before a hot spark of anger surged through her chest. “Water? …These cultists have been hiding water?” Her voice echoed sharper than she intended, too loud in the damp stone passage, but she couldn’t help it.
She clenched her jaw, her sunblade’s light trembling with the rise of her fury. “While folk above scrape by, dying of thirst—these bastards keep it locked away down here?” Her voice cracked, equal parts rage and memory of her own days on the streets, thirsty and hungry.
She nodded hard at Merkas’ suggestion, eyes flashing. “Yes. We’ll turn it back on. Flood this whole damned place if we have to. Let their secrets rot and drown with them. ******* piss-soaked, rat-humping, goat-*******, plague-licking, cockless, shit-slurping bastards—may their mothers drown in a privy and their fathers get skull-****ed by gully dwarves. Hoarding water while children choke on dust? While honest folk break their backs for a mouthful of mud? May Paladine’s light burn their shriveled balls to ash. Not anymore.”
She spat to the side, every gutter-born curse dripping venom, each uglier than the last, her rage boiling over as if she could cut them with words alone.
Hastos hides his amusement as the string of curses issues from Sera’s lips. “Agreed. Let’s grab what we can and get that water on. I’m not usually too interested in wealth, but in political skirmishes, money is power and influence. If… “ Hastos coughs a bit then continues, “… our adversaries are indeed high up, the money will help.”
”We’ll also need some place to hide it before we get back to the top side. We can’t been seen to have stolen from the coffers of government.”
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
You enter the treasure room, and the Gust of Wind spell is still scattering the piles along the southern wall, but it seems to be dying out. Here, you find food resources, clothing, shelter building supplies, coins, gold and steel bricks, jewels, and armaments. With the Deathlock gone, you pretty much have free run of the place.
The growling sounds of hungry zombies seems to be distant here, but it sounds like a small horde of zombies have encountered another monster and started fighting it. Sussing out the direction of the scuffle is nearly impossible with how it echoes through the chambers. Ororana sighs when she sees the mess she made of the room.
"Conveniently, the food and clothing supplies are the least important, since you brought the crates back. But they're still important. It seems like someone was helping them skim from the supply lines. If you're right, Merkas, and Rhyana and Verhanna are involved in this, that wouldn't be hard to accomplish. Rhyana is in charge of supply distribution, and Verhanna manages Santekh's finances." She looks down and nudges a sack of medicine with her foot. "I feel so stupid. I would've trusted Verhanna with my life. She seems stand-offish, but she has a soft side underneath. You can see it when she's close to Rhyana. They are the most influential members of the council. Bringing them down will require a lot of evidence, and a majority vote from the council, which can't be done. Buckeran and Piruz make up the other two votes, and I doubt either Verhanna or Rhyana will vote against each other. Without a tie-breaker, I don't see a way to take them down without an act of force. Amelista and Harmanutis have been petitioning for a 5th position on council for situations like this, but we've just had too many other battles to fight to put the plan into motion."
Map:
She/her, DM and Player.
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My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
Ne'haredowell's ears perk in surprise by the zombie's seeming recognition. He picks up the diamond and tosses it in between his hands before crouching down to scoop the zombie ash into their component pouch. Dusting himself off, he keeps hold of the diamond in one paw.
Nare's stance stays still, but his tail wags a bit at the mention of what him and Sera did together with the cultists. Not really used to all the praise, especially not with the nickname, it takes him a lot of willpower not to say anything.
Then the mood turns sour when Merkas mentions the priestess. It confirmed some of his worse suspicions. Rhyanna did like soldiers who would kill Dragon Army warriors, which put him and his old team the Golden Company off her radar. This... this would make sense. Someone on the council would have had to cover it up and who other than her wife. Still, he didn't want to jump to conclusions just yet.
What brings him out of his daydream was Sera's swear-storm. He stands there wide-eyed. 'I didn't clerics can do such a thing like that!'
His pet mouse buries itself into his cloak a bit further; he pets it to soothe it. He nods to agree. It's true though what she said, they had let the town suffer in their search for aimless justice.
Recalling her despaired sigh just a few moments ago, Nare holds up the diamond. "I don't really need it. I just like the dust," Nare reaches to pat Sera on the arm then flinches. He holds up his hand in defense. "Not like that um." He tries to show her that his shadows were at bay by letting her feel his fur. Realizing that this might be taken in as flirty, he doubles down on his spiel, waving his hands. "I mean, uh no shadows, no nothing. Look." His furry paws were indeed free of darkness.
Shaking his head at himself, "Here," he continues. He hands her the zombie-diamond with a small smile. "You did good. We will stop them and bring water back to Sanketh. Yeah..." Putting his hands in his nonexistent pockets, he is quick to walk away and follow behind in Ororanna's footsteps. 'Sands be damned. I sound like my cheesy shadow-puppet characters.' Listening along with Ororanna's words, Nare scours the place looking for things that he could use. Stopping, crouched down in one corner, he realizes something.
Stumbling to take out his Rogue's Watch, he hurriedly turns the dial to the last ten seconds of the 60. "Go double check the cultist chamber. See if there is any survivors," he whispers to it before continuing to look through the treasure.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Ibahalii Vriwhulth
Sera watched the so-called treasure room with growing disgust. So much stolen from the poor—coin, trinkets, and even food skimmed off the rations meant for desperate mouths. Her hands clenched as Merkas quietly laid it bare: Ryhana and Verhanna, leaders of the council themselves, were likely behind this corruption. Her heart sank like a stone, but at least the puzzle was snapping together.
“They won’t let us walk free now… not with what we’ve seen. Not with what we know. If we stay in the town, they’ll silence us, one way or another.” Her voice was grim, flat as a grave marker.
When Hastos reminded them that this wasn’t just about wealth, but about the political power wealth brought, Sera gave a slow nod. He was right—they needed leverage, even if it tasted bitter. She drew in a breath and pressed her holy symbol against her chest. “Please, Paladine… give me your strength.”
Her prayer was answered with a subtle spark of radiance. Her muscles thickened, her upper torso shimmering faintly as her arms bulged like knotted rope. Her biceps swelled until they looked carved of stone, the kind of strength you did not want to arm-wrestle against. She rolled her shoulders and flexed her arms.
( cast enhance ability. Bulls strenght. Carry capacity doubles )
“I can carry… a lot.” Her voice had a new weight to it, like she was daring the world to try and stop her. With a grunt, she bent low and hauled the first heavy sack onto her shoulders as though it were nothing.
“We’ll split it all later. For now, we pack the most valuable pieces first. Medicines, steel, jewels… even gold if we can. We take anything that weakens their grip when we take it away.” She kicked open a crate of dried food, quickly emptying it to make space for steel bars. Her eyes flicked toward Nare and Orerana.
“You two. Water. Can you get it flowing again?” she asked a bit more bossy than intended , her voice edged with the fire of someone ready to spit in the face of every corrupt bastard hoarding what others bled for. She was upset.